Ineffective Vaughn Sent To Pawtucket

Red Sox Recall Brumley To Replace Vaughn On Roster

MINNEAPOLIS — The move had as much to do with the mental riggors of baseball as it did with the physical aspects of the game. The Red Sox had to save Mo Vaughn from his own fires.

The Red Sox sent the first baseman from Norwalk to Triple A Pawtucket Monday and filled his roster spot by purchasing the contract of Pawtucket utilityman Mike Brumley.

"Mo was just going to go backwards up here and we didn't want him to lose his confidence," general manager Lou Gorman said. "Because once you lose your confidence ... We felt it was as much to save him as anything else."

Gorman and manager Butch Hobson had talked for a couple of days about the possibility of sending Vaughn to Pawtucket to work on his hitting. Vaughn, inconsistent since spring training, has struggled under the imbalance of expectations and performance.

Vaughn, 24, was hitting .185, with two homers and 11 RBI. He had struck out 22 times in 65 at-bats. On the surface, those numbers aren't unusual among Vaughn's teammates. In fact, until Sunday, he led the team in homers and was tied for the RBI lead Jack Clark became the leader in both categories when he played first base for the first time since coming to the Red Sox, and responded with two home runs and six RBI.

"But we had been talking about [Vaughn's demotion] for a couple of days," Gorman said. "It was more a matter of when than if."

Two events this weekend sealed the decision: Vaughn cost the Red Sox a game Friday night when he dropped an easy throw from shortstop Luis Rivera, leading to the Royals' game-winning run and a 2-1 victory, and Red Sox learned Saturday that Scott Cooper looks promising at first.

The Red Sox also were concerned about Vaughn's concentration and intensity. There are few players as intense as Vaughn. Hobson, who almost never publicly criticizes a player, said after Friday night's loss that he was worried about Vaughn's concentration.

"[The demotion] will give him a different look," Hobson said Monday. "He'll get down there and get his confidence back. I know he can swing the bat. But his concentration hasn't been there."

So much has been expected of the left-handed hitting Vaughn. He was considered baseball's top minor league prospect two years ago. But he has not delivered in his major league play the past two seasons.

He hit .260 in 74 games last season, with 32 RBI but only four homers after joining the Red Sox from Pawtucket June 27.

That was nothing compared to this season, when Vaughn has looked confused at the plate.

There had been two highlights. He hit an Opening Day homer at Yankee Stadium that seemed the precursor of better things. And he had a game-winning, two-run single in the bottom of the ninth May 1 to beat the Royals, 6-5.

There wasn't much in between.

Vaughn basically was handed the first base job in spring training after the career-threatening auto accident to two-season starter Carlos Quintana. He came to camp 30 pounds lighter and his head completely shaved. He worked and worked. And struggled and struggled.

"Sometimes players get tagged early with great expectations and they don't come right off the bat," Hobson said.

Brumley a reserve Hobson said he will use Brumley as a left-handed bat off the bench and backup infielder. He also will be the fastest runner on the team. Brumley was hitting .313 (25-for-80) at Pawtucket, with one homer and eight RBI in 22 games. He was the last cut in spring training, when Hobson decided to carry 11 pitchers. ... Gorman said he expects outfielder Mike Greenwell to be ready to come off the disabled list when eligible Sunday.